Fossil

Fossil was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1984 by Tom Kartsotis on an idea from his brother Kosta, who later ran the company; it began as Overseas Products International, importing fashion watches made in Asia and selling them in retro-styled tins. It listed on Nasdaq in 1993 and grew into one of the largest watch producers by volume through licensed lines for fashion houses, among them Emporio Armani, Michael Kors, Diesel and DKNY, alongside its own Fossil, Relic and Michele brands. In 2001 it acquired Zodiac, the Swiss maker of the Sea Wolf diver, and in 2012 the Danish brand Skagen.

Fossil entered smartwatches in 2015 with the purchase of Misfit and Wear OS models under several brands, then announced its exit from that segment in January 2024. Headquartered in Richardson, Texas, Fossil Group is a publicly traded accessories company selling watches, leather goods and jewellery through its own stores and wholesale partners, and has been restructuring since 2024.